Following the government's announcement of a real estate tax reform plan, the Seoul city government will hold a public debate involving citizens and experts to discuss the impact of the tax changes on the real estate market and strategies for stabilizing the housing market.
On August 5, the city announced that it will host a 'Public Debate for Real Estate Normalization' on August 6 in the main conference room on the third floor of Seoul City Hall. The event will feature Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, along with over 50 participants including homeowners, young people without housing, private rental business operators, experts, and creators.
The debate is subtitled 'Can Tax Reform Address Housing Insecurity?' and will last for 90 minutes. The entire event will be streamed live on the official YouTube channel of the Seoul city government.
This public debate is the first citizen-participation event organized by the city following the government's announcement of the '2026 Tax Reform Plan' on August 3. The city explained that the event aims to listen to the burdens and concerns felt by citizens rather than simply presenting policies.
Participants will engage in a free discussion for about 60 minutes, focusing on four main topics: tax reform, real estate transactions, the rental market, and housing supply.
Online participation will also be available. Viewers can submit their opinions through real-time comments and video connections during the YouTube live stream. The city plans to release a summary of key discussions, including citizen feedback and expert responses, after the debate concludes.
The debate will be moderated by Kim Byeong-min, chair of the G3 Seoul Planning Committee and former deputy mayor for political affairs. The city is expected to advocate for increasing housing supply through redevelopment and reconstruction rather than implementing policies that raise tax burdens.
Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated, "If the rental market contracts due to the government's tax reform, the burden will ultimately fall on the underprivileged and young people. I want to hear directly what citizens are truly concerned about through this debate." He added, "The fundamental solution to stabilizing the housing market is not taxes, but sufficient housing supply. We will accelerate policies that can effectively increase supply in Seoul, including redevelopment and reconstruction."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.